According to the QS Subject Rankings 2011, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is ranked No. 1 in Chemical Engineering and in a number of subjects. This is the first time QS World University Rankings have been compiled by subject.

In Australia, University of Melbourne took the top spot among all Australian institutions, ranking first across five subject areas including Computer Science & Information Systems; Civil & Structural Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing.

The University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney are placed among the top 5 nationally in each subject area. University of Queensland is ranked in the top 5 nationally in three areas: Chemical Engineering (2nd), Civil & Structural Engineering (4th), and Computer Science & Information Systems (5th).

The University of Cambridge (UK) is the highest ranked institution in the UK and Europe for all the subjects. It is ranked in the world's top 3 in: Chemical Engineering (2nd globally), Electrical (3rd globally), Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing (2nd globally), Civil & Structural (3rd globally), Computer Science & Information Systems (3rd globally).